It is no doubt that after doing a TON of research on what makes a successful job candidate or career search, that the one thing that separates the “men from the boys” (or “women from the girls”) is a professional looking, well written cover letter.
In fact, many hiring managers say that most applicants do not submit them. So for those who want a definite advantage and to quickly move your resume to the top of the pile, it best to spend time learning how to write a good cover letter.
Why a Cover Letter is Important
A cover letter is your chance to impress the hiring manager and highlight your expertise and why you make an ideal candidate for their company. It is also an opportunity for you to explain why there may be gaps in your resume, or why you may have taken a few years off to travel the world, for example.
And since many applicants do not include the cover letter, just by simply putting something together that can show off your communication skills is definitely going to make you stand out.
However, there are a few mistakes that you want to avoid so that you do not eliminate yourself from the employment race right from the get-go.
4 Great Tips on How to Write a Good Cover Letter
1. Keep it Brief.
So you now realize that writing a good cover letter is important. However, you take advantage of the fact that you are a truly good writer and almost everyone is captivated by your detailed, flowing narrative prose. And besides, you have so many good things to say that you can’t simply get the point across in one page…
BAD IDEA.
The best cover letters are brief, and straight to the point.
Use bullet points in order to explain a few highlights that need further explanation on your resume. If necessary, keep your content to no more than 3 good paragraphs.
2. Mimic the job description.
I have read many articles and content about the topic of cover letters and resume writing, and I have not heard anyone talk on this subject. However, this is extremely important.
For example, if in the job description the company mentions: “Responsible for growing the territory by cold-calling on new and existing clients with C-Level backgrounds,” you could state in your cover letter:
“I have increased sales by cold-calling in my assigned territory and have experience with selling to C-Level clients.”
3. Personalization is key.
Who doesn’t like hearing their name or getting personalized mail? If you find a position that is listed on a job search website, and you are unsure who to direct the letter to, you might want to take the initiative and find out who is pre-screening the resumes and cover letters.
Imagine you are the hiring manager and you receive a stack of cover letters and only one has the hiring manager’s name on it. That could be you! Your application packet will for sure be on the top of the pile.
4. Do NOT use templates.
Every cover letter you write should be unique to that position to which you are applying for. So, if you are applying to ABC Manufacturing and XYZ Logistics, each cover letter should be unique! You can utilize example cover letters as a basic framework, but you should always write your own original version.
Yes, this may sound tedious, but it will be worth it. What you will learn in the process of researching the company will translate better and sound personalized to the reader.
BONUS TIP
5. Use a “Secret Sentence”
There is one secret sentence you can use that almost NO ONE else uses. If you want to know how to write a good cover letter, this is probably the best tip we can give you.
Watch this video from a leader in the Career Industry to explain the “secret sentence”….
Writing a Cover Letter 